Second Week Coming to an End

As the second week has come to an end I am beginning to really feel the passion for this job. I am not talking about my own passion, I am talking about the passion of the real organizers. My week was spent doing some research on the local clergy who might help us with our campaign and two days knocking on doors trying to get a feel for the actual bus drivers.

After knocking on about 12 doors all around the Chicagoland area and not one employee being at that address, we finally found one. This employee shared some stories with Audrey and I about favoritism, but mostly about how the managers/owners make everyone scared. You could feel this employees desire for change but nerves about losing his job if the company found out the employee spoke to the Teamster. It was a bit of a reality check for me. It has me thinking about really serious issue of how we treat others and what that means for my future rabbinate and life.

About me summer long question (Why do these organizers do what they do) I got a chance to sit down with Shawn and Jim. We had a long talk and I think I really pushed them (as they pushed back) to why this stuff was so unethical or was some of it just unfair/brutal business. Eventually, I asked Jim why he became an organizer. Jim told me he was a 4th generation Teamster. He worked for a company/union for almost 25 years and then joined the Teamsters so others would be able to put away for their families like he has done. Clearly, he feels a connection because he was a worker and so were the generations before him. Jim seem to be a bright guy who could be doing a lot of different things in this world. But he has chosen to just help others. That is what the guy wants to do. Help. I respected that a lot. 

My goal, as stated before, is to talk to non-former-workers who organize. Unfortunately, there aren't any really at the Teamsters office I work at, but I will keep exploring. Until next time.

Have a wonderful Sabbath. Rest up.
And Let Us Say...Amen.
-Jeremy Fine

Hi All,

I hope the first week went well. I just wanted to share a short review of a film (9500 Liberty) that I went to see with one of my colleagues at Georgetown's Labor Initiative after work one day. Here is the link to the youtube trailer, review below. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjHUb9PqysI

I was privileged to attend Annabel Park and Eric Byler’s 9500 Liberty—a vivid, representational portrait of immigration issues in northern Virginia—on June 16th 2010.

Park and Byler’s ability to depict the nature of small town politics in Manassas, Virginia reveals the rivalries, coalitions, and infighting that result from locally divisive issues. Testimonial accounts captured my attention and drove me to think more critically about how local groups can have an impact on the nature of the legal process. Together, these accounts illustrated the resounding need for political action and attentiveness, rather than apathy.

While my appreciation of the film stems from the filmmakers’ passion for the subject, I offer a critique on the question of objectivity. The filmmakers become involved in the story as it unfolds in a manner reminiscent of (though much less reckless than) “Gonzo journalism”. Perhaps, it is unfair to pigeon hole them into the role of objective documentarian. However, the film left in me a contrarian desire to better understand the motivations behind anti-immigration policies. By the conclusion of the film, it seemed difficult to comprehend how the filmmakers could acquire an honest interview from their opposition as they publicly associated themselves with one side.

Regardless, this academic complaint should not take away from the films resounding success in depicting the convergence of activism, technology, and politics on the issue of immigration. It is an inspirational job well done.

Workers Memorial Luncheon

My first week back from training was dominated by preparations for our Workers' Memorial Luncheon. (Workers' Memorial Day is actually observed all over the world on April 28, but that was only a few weeks before our primaries here in Arkansas and people were swamped with that, so AICWJ decided to reschedule our event for well after the election.) The facts are pretty stunning: an average of 14 workers die on the job every day in this country. In 2008, 5,071 workers lost their lives on the job, and another 50,000 died from occupational diseases.
About 50 of us gathered in the basement of First Presbyterian Church in Little Rock to commemorate these workers, particularly those Arkansans who lost their lives on the job. After sharing a meal together, we participated in a short ceremony to remember and honor all those who died on the job in the past year. State Senator Joyce Elliott held a large candle from which we lit individual candles and each said the name of an Arkansan worker. Once all the candles were lit, a prayer was said and Taps was played.
After a week of stress, I'd begun to resent the luncheon a little bit. But after experiencing it, my mind was changed. I was struck by the way all sorts of people - labor folks, religious leaders, community members, local politicians - came out to honor our workers as one community.
I hope everyone else had as great a week as I did. I start clergy visits next week - send me good vibes!

PS - If you'd like to see more photos from the event, they're available on our page on Facebook!

Week One is Completed - Jeremy Fine

Its been a nice week so far. I know way more about Chicago buses then I ever dreamed. To be honest its really interesting and I am learning a lot.

I undertook my first task this week which was to compile stories and facts about the bus company that we are trying to unionize. Once I compiled everything I outlined ethical and religious issue, using reason and the Bible. I tried to also see things from the bus company's point of view. I think that we need to really understand what they do well to fully understand where we can make change.

It was a good project and a good week. On my personal journey I am still trying to understand why people do what they do. I spent some time at the IWJ office (and will continue to), which I think will help me better understand the passion of organizing.

Shabbat Shalom to everyone.
And Let Us Say...Amen.
-Jeremy Fine

Chicago Internship Training

Topsy-turvy in New York City

Over a plate of pierogies at a perfectly-preserved "old boys" sort of D.C. bar last week, a friend mused on "how strange it is to be in the world after a year at seminary." Indeed, everything feels topsy-turvy while at the same time topsy-turvy seems the right and proper order of things.

I, along with a couple of our colleagues, was in D.C. rather than Chicago because we've fallen backward into an AFL-CIO summer internship program that has us working with a handful of other students (largely undergraduates) in cities across the country. Last week, instead of building my pastoral voice, learning about interfaith work, and meeting you fabulous people, I learned labor's official position on the future of the movement. There was talk of "winning" the "fight," but little sense of common cause with the poor, the undocumented, our local farmers.

Suddenly I feel a sense of loss when one justice cause uprooted from the broader ethic that feeds it, suddenly I find myself offering the theological perspective to a group. For me, the world has been turned upside down a bit, and I sense how different this assignment is from what most of you will be doing. But there's an opportunity here to play chaplain to a community that might not know they need one, and to learn from a different way of going about justice work. Maybe, like Paul's people, I ought to keep turning things over – off we go.

paz,

Steve

Starting up at the SMWC

Howdy Everyone! I hope you all safely arrived at your destinations! I made it to Portland around midnight on Friday, but unfortunately my suitcase of clothing did not. I have since become good friends with Patty from delayed baggage claims and will hopefully have it returned tomorrow.

The Southern Maine Workers' Center here is definitely in a period of transition. After a partner with their Restaurant Opportunities Center pulled out a few months ago, they have been working to reestablish their goals and strategize as to where to focus next. I will mostly be working with my supervisor, Paul, on reaching out to the faith community to build a foundation of support for the new center through one-on-ones and social mapping.

Thursday I will be attending the Maine Initiatives dinner, where the organization will be highlighting places they support, like the workers’ center. Then Friday and Saturday I will be helping with the union's COPE convention, talking about interfaith worker support in the area. All of this should be quite interesting and a great opportunity to meet fascinating people in the area.

Until next time, peace and love from Maine!

Cheers,
-Kari and Balou (the office dog and my new best bud)

Bus Drivers Campaign Days 1 & 2

I was pretty nervous walking into the office on the first day.  Besides knowing little about what I am doing, I also needed to ask not to have to work out of Brookfield. Luckily, James and Kim were great about it. Nerves gone and ready to organize and help the world =)

I got to know the office and how dedicated/passionate people in the Teamsters are about what they do. They fly back and forth from Nashville or DC. Jim Glimco puts his reputation on the line every day fighting for what he believes in.

After learning all about the bus drivers campaign and informing people about what the day to day life is like in Jerusalem, I got my first task.

That is what I have been doing today (day 2). I am research and compiling a cheat sheet of stories and information for the office. Good work and learning a lot.

Something personal that I really want to explore is why people are doing what they are doing? What drives someone to organize? I have a feeling it isn't the money or the friendly hours. Clearly, there are workers who didn't like their conditions while they were laborers. Those people aside, the people right out of college or that gave up their corporate jobs for the life of an organizer, why did those people choose to do what they do?

Tomorrow I get to see Kristin, Meg, and the IWJ gang.

And Let Us Say...Amen. (If this reference is weird to you check out my blog www.TheGreatRabbino.com or a prayer book =))

-Jeremy Fine

The First Day

Julie Gorman - Tompkins County Workers' Center - Ithaca, NY



Today I walked to the Workers' Center, incredibly nervous about whether I really had enough to contribute to such an important organization. Having arrived early, I sat outside and waited for Pete, my supervisor, to get here. When he arrived, we stood outside and talked for a bit. He asked me how I was and about training. Then he asked me how I felt today and about starting this. I told him I was a bit overwhelmed, and he told me he thought I could handle it well.

I've spent the past few hours working on archiving newspaper articles about the center - the first of many projects I will see over the summer. Twenty minutes ago, Pete and another worker named Linda told me they had a meeting to go to, handed me the phone, gave me the intimidating news that I would be in charge for an hour or so, and told me they believed I would be just fine. So here I am on my lunch break, taking workers' phone calls and blogging. The more I speak to people on the phone or when the come in, the less nervous I am.

I think we all went into this being afraid of not being able to contribute enough or in the right way when we are working with people who have been at this for years. But when the director told me he believed I could do it, I knew I needed to believe him or I wasn't going to be able to be as productive as I should. I hope the other interns have similar experiences in the first couple days. It's nice to feel like you are doing something right, and we all definitely have the potential.

Just remember - this country needs a revolution, and we have the power to bring it.

Peace,
Jul